Improvement in combined fire-escape and spring-bed



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT H. MOGINNIS AND CHARLES T. MAUS, OF GOSHEN, IND., ASSIGN- ORS OF ONE-THIRD THEIR RIGHT TO FRANK H. GROW, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN COMBINED FIRE-ESCAPE AND SPRING-BED.

Specification forming part ofLoitors Patent No. 206,811, dated August 6, 1878; application filed November 10, 1877.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ROBERT HENRY Mo- Glnn s and CHARLES TALOOTT MAUS, of Goshen,in the county of Elkhart and State of Indiana, have invented a new and valuable Improvement in Spring-Bed and Fire-Escape Combined; and we do hereby declare that the following is afull, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a representation of a front view of the spring bed-bottom converted into a fire-escape. Fig. 2 is a top view of the bed-bottom, and Fig. 3 is a side view of one of the ladder-sections.

This invention has relation to improvements in spring bed-bottoms that are convertibleat pleasure into fire escapes.

The nature of the invention consists in the arrangement and novel combination of the parts of the bottom, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

In the annexed drawings, the letter A designates our improved spring bed-bottom, made up of a number of sections B, arranged side by side in a suitable frame, and each composed of two spaced rails, a, connected together at intervals by tread-bars b. Each section is thus converted into a ladder. At each'end of the rails a aloop, c, is formed, carrying a ring, d, by bending a sufficiently strong piece of strap-iron in U form, and bolting the ends to the sides of the rails, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

The treads are secured to the rails by means of strong staples d, that straddle the said treads, extend through the rails, and are clinched on the reverse side thereof. Upon these rails are secured the conical helical springs S, apexes downward, the extreme end being carried through the said rails, and at tached thereto by means of a staple straddling the last convolution of the said springs, driven through the rails, and clinched upon the opposite side thereof. These springs, upon each section of the bed-bottom, are con nected together by angular looped couplingrods f, uniting each parallel set of springs,

and link'rods g, connecting each set of contiguous coupling-rods, and with each other by arod, j. This construction is rendered necessary by reasons hereinafter explained.

The sections are laid side by side, and connected together by a flexible chain, H, at alternate ends. This chain is passed through each of the rings d, and its ends connected together by a link or other equivalent device. The alternate ends of the sections are thus flexibly connected together, and when not in use can be readily placed side by side in a frame. These chains also materially lengthen the ladder--a weighty consideration in descendin g from a lofty buildiu g, since not more than four or five of the sections, each something less than six feet long, can be fitted in the widest bed-frame. The ladder-sections are suspended from the windowframe, with the springs bearing against the wall, and serving as fenders by means of a bar, M, and a chain, N. This chain passes through the rings d at the free end of one of the side sections of the bottom, and its ends are rigidly secured to spaced rings d upon the bar M. This bar reaches across the window-frame, with its ends bearing against the jamb-posts.

The use of the rings d and the connectingchains passing through said rings brings the line of strain exactly in the central line of the fire-escape, thus preventing the side rails from spreading when under strain and releasing the rounds. The springs S being connected together, as above described, by the rods j, the angular couplings f, and the linkrods, the strain brought thereon when the fire-escape is in use is distributed. over several of the said springs. The ladder is thus prevented from tilting to one side, owing to the undue yielding of the springs.

What we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is- 1. A bed-bottom composed of ladders having helical springs adapted to support the bedding, and serve as fenders to hold the ladder from the wall, substantially as specified.

2. In a combined fire-escape and bed-bottom, the combination, with the ladder-sections B, having loops 0 and carrying-rings d, of the connecting chain H, passing through said rings, and bringing the line of strain in the the holding-bar M, all combined, arranged, central line of the ladder, substantially as and operating substantially as set forth. specified. In testimony that we claim the above we 3. The combination, with the hulder-sechave hereunto subscribed our names in the tions B and their flexible connections 11, of presence of two witnesses.

the fender-springs S, the connecting-rods j, ROPFRT HFNRY MCUIYNIS the angular couplingsf, and the links 9, subt J I t Stantiany as specified. QHARLLS TALOOTT MAL .8.

4. The bed-bottom and fire-escape consisting Witnesses:

ofthe ladder-sections A, the femler-springs S, JOSIAH B. COBB,

the loops 0, the rings (7. the chains ll N, and tlnonun DAY. 

